[Buddha-l] Buddhism, the second largest religion in the world

[jkirk]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vicente Gonzalez" <vicen.bcn at gmail.com>

 >..... I think the same. In example, in an official paper of the USA gov in
> 2002: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2002/13870.htm
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Looking at this link, what I found supports other speculations
mooted so far,  is "...it is difficult to estimate accurately the number
of Buddhists because they do not have congregational memberships and often 
do not participate in public ceremonies."

"...Buddhists make up the largest body of organized religious believers. The 
Government estimates that there are more than 100 million Buddhists, most of 
whom are from the dominant Han ethnic group. However, it is difficult to 
estimate accurately the number of Buddhists because they do not have 
congregational memberships and often do not participate in public 
ceremonies. The Government reports that there are 16,000 Buddhist temples 
and monasteries and more than 320,000 nuns and monks."
I wonder if the above also includes the Buddhist Dai minority in 
Sipsongpanna.

Joanna